Robert Brodrick
Robert advises on tax, trust and estate planning for wealthy individuals, their advisers and trustees. He acts for a wide range of clients including the owners of landed estates, business people, non-domiciliaries (non-dom / non-doms) and international families with assets in multiple jurisdictions.
Robert is a Trustee of a number of UK trusts including several that hold heritage assets, and he also acts as Executor. Robert advises on contentious trust and probate work, and has recently been involved in applications to vary and rectify trusts both in the UK and offshore.
Robert has developed a reputation for advising a number of high profile US families based in the UK (alongside their existing US advisers) and he is also experienced at advising Middle Eastern families on the creation and reorganization of trusts, including Sharia compliant structures. He is also known for his sensitive handling of complicated family situations.
Robert is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. He has spoken at conferences and seminars in a number of locations worldwide, including London, New York, Geneva, Bahrain, Dubai, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.
Robert is a founding partner of Tatler Address Book Advisory (formerly Tatler HNW Address Book) and is listed as one of the UK’s top tax & trust lawyers. Advisory is Tatler’s trusted network of influential private client experts, all at the pinnacle of their profession and recognised as elite practitioners with the gilt-edged expertise necessary to advise UHNW and HNW individuals.
Robert trained at Withers. He joined Payne Hicks Beach from Trowers & Hamlins where he moved in 2004 and had been a partner since 2007.
Qualified 1998, joined Payne Hicks Beach 2012, Partner 2012, Chair of the Management Board in 2019.
-Chambers UK Guide 2025 ranks Robert Brodrick for ‘Private Wealth Law (London Firms)’.
The Legal 500 UK 2025 ranks Robert Brodrick as a ‘Leading Partner’ for both the ‘Private Client: Agriculture and Estates’ and ‘Private Client: Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate’ categories.
Robert is recommended in Chambers HNW, UK and Global directories and The Legal 500 UK as a top private client solicitor specialising in private wealth law, contentious trusts & estates and agriculture and landed estates.
Robert is ranked in Chambers HNW 2024 for private wealth law.
Chambers HNW values Robert’s considerable experience advising domestic and international clients on estate and succession planning matters. “He is very technically knowledgeable, very professional and very thorough,” remarks one market insider. Another interviewee says: “Robert is an extremely capable and sensible lawyer who can identify solutions for complex problems.” The interviewee continues: “He can present the options in straightforward and concise language that inspires trust and confidence.” Further commentary includes: “Robert is an excellent lawyer. He is thoughtful and has very strong technical skills. He is also amiable and a pleasure to deal with.” Sources also say, “Robert is responsive, extremely knowledgeable and collaborative. He also has an incredible skill for translating sophisticated tax concepts to clients.” and “Robert is very personable and can provide pragmatic advice in relation to the most complicated situations.”
The Legal 500 UK describes Robert as “excellent” and says he “has a breadth of knowledge and experience,” is “well-connected and commercial,” displays “a willingness to explore lateral solutions” and is “knowledgeable, approachable and quick to respond.” The directory praises him for being “effective, providing good follow-up and thorough explanations around procedure.”
Chambers UK writes that he is particularly revered for his representation of clients with agricultural interests and that they find him easy to work with, clients saying “he is a wise counsel and is very commercial in his outlook.” “Robert Brodrick is very responsive, effective and empathetic to the family requirements of a landed estate. He is able to delegate work appropriately to his wider support network whilst being fully informed and available to his clients.” Robert is described as a “good communicator – he’s understanding and thorough, with enormous integrity”, with one source noting that “his attention to detail and knowledge of estates are second to none.” Impressed clients report that Robert “was there all the time and dealt with everything personally” and the directory goes on to say that Robert regularly advises Middle Eastern clients on the establishment of trusts and UK property holding structures. Chambers Global recognises that Robert has a private client practice that combines international matters and landed estates work. It highlights that he works with private individuals from the USA, as well as advising Middle Eastern clients on Shari’a-compliant trust structures. The directory quotes an observer who says that Robert is “very responsive, meticulous and an effective adviser.”
Robert was named Private Client Lawyer of the Year in the Spear’s Wealth Management Awards 2009 and in 2011 was awarded a distinction in the STEP Advanced Certificate in Trust Disputes. 2018 saw Robert shortlisted again for Tax & Trust Lawyer of the Year at the Spear’s Wealth Management Awards.
Robert has been listed in the Citywealth Leading Lawyers List for many years, including the current 2022 publication, featuring as a leading lawyer specialising in estate planning, non-contentious trusts and landed estates. The International Who’s Who Legal has ranked Robert year on year as a private client global leader and in the current 2023 publication.
Robert Brodrick is listed in the Spear’s Tax & Trust Adviser’s Index 2024 as a “Top Flight” Tax Lawyer.
Legal Week’s Private Client Global Elite 2024 named Robert in Tier 1 as one of the world’s elite private client lawyers with market-leading private wealth law expertise advising ultra high net worth clients.